Atomizer for lubricants



lulyZB, 1970 H, SQCHUNG ET AL 3,52L727 ATOMI ZER FOR LUBRICANTS Filed Feb. 19, 1968 United States Patent O 3,521,727 ATOMIZER FOR LUBRICANTS Herbert Sochting and Gerhard Hitschmann, Vienna,

Austria, assignors to Hoerbiger Ventilwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Vienna, Austria Filed Feb. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 706,386 Claims priority, application Austria, Feb. 24, 1967, A 1,833/67 Int. Cl. F16n 7/34 U.S. Cl. 184-56 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An atomizer for lubricants having a container for the lubricant, an atomizer head connected thereto and a flow passage in the atomizer head, in which a check valve is incorporated. An additional passageway is provided bypassing the check valve and permitting a reverse flow of medium through the atomizer head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an atomizer for lubricants and more particularly to such atomizers comprising a container for the lubricant and an atomizer head in the passage of which permitting the flow of a gaseous medium therethrough a spring-loaded automatic control valve opening in the direction provided for the ow of the medium and controlling the cross-sectional area of the passage is incorporated.

Atomizers of this type serve mainly for the production of a fine oil spray in compressed-air lines for the lubrication of compressed-air installations, the compressed ail delivered to the said installations owing through the passage provided in the atomizer head inside which it is supplied with a lubricant spray. The transportability of the lubricant admixed to the air current is known to depend on the size of the drops of lubricant, the velocity of the air current and the length and design of the deli-very pipe. If the pim is of considerable length and presents narrow bends, a substantial portion of the lubricant will be deposited on the inner surface of the pipe and will reach the points requiring lubrication at a later stage only, and in some instances, by surges. To avoid this shortcoming it is necessary in many cases to arrange the atomizer directly in front of the compressed-air installations to be lubricated so as to reduce the length of the pipeline to the minimum. Consequently, it will be necessary in such cases where the compressed-air installations are to be filled and emptied alternatingly, particularly in the case of compressed-air cylinders, to arrange the associated controls upstream of the atomizer. Therefore, the medium flows through the atomizer in one direction during the filling operation and in the opposite direction during the emptying operation.

With the known types of atomizers comprising a throttled cross-sectional area of the passage similar to a Venturi tube producing a differential head which is responsible for the delivery of the lubricant from the container through the above-mentioned passage, there is no objection to the medium flowing through the passage in both directions. However, the admixture of lubricant involved at least in the initial backow period due to the pressure still prevailing in the container is both useless and objectionable. In connection with so-called bypass atomizers wherein the medium flowing therethrough is divided into a main stream owing through a throttled cross-sectional area wherein the lubricant is admixed, and into a by-pass stream controlled by means of a check Valve, the check valve is occasionally designed in such a manner as to provide for a by-pass ilow in opposite directions. Although this arrangement permits a reverse ow of the medium through the atomizer, it provides for the use of the same passageways both for the forward and reverse flow, so that lubricant is admixed during the flow of the medium in either direction.

With the first-mentioned type of atomizer featuring a passage the cross-sectional area of which is infinitely variable by means of a control valve for the purpose of adapting the differential head produced and consequently, the supply of oil automatically to the amount of air owing through the passage at any given moment, a similar reverse flow of the medium is not possible because the passage lis closed by the control valve. In many instances, however, the use of atomizers comprising a control valve for the infinitely variable regulation of the dilferential head in the passage is desirable because with this type of atomizers it is possible to achieve a substantially constant mixture ratio between the passing air and the admiXed lubricant also with varying throughputs of compressed air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to permit the medium to ow through an atomizer of the type described in both directions, lubricant being admixed to the passing air in one direction only, without the need for any objectionable throttling of the flowing medium.

The invention consists in an atomizer for lubricants comprising a container for the lubricant and an atomizer head connected to the container, the atomizer head having a passage for the ow of a gaseous medium therethrough, the lubricant being admixed to the medium flowing through sai-d passage, spring-loaded, automatic control valve means regulating the cross-sectional area of the said passage being incorporated in the passage and operative to open in one direction provided for the forward flow of the medium through the atomizer head, a separate backow passageway by-passing the control valve means being provided for the reverse ow of the medium in an opposite direction to the forward ow of the medium through the atomizer head, and throttling means being incorporated in the said backow passageway. Preferably, the throttling means is formed by a check valve incorporated in the backflow passageway and opening in the direction of the reverse flow of the medium.

As a result of the insertion of the throttling means in the backow passageway, during the reverse flow of the medium through the atomizer head the pressure prevailing-as viewed in the direction of the normal forward flow through the passage-on the downstream side of the control valve means where the lubricant is delivered to the passage, is greater than on the upstream side in front of the control valve means so that the supply of lubricant from the container into the passage is stopped during the reverse flow. Since a minor differential head between the two sides of the control valve means is sulicient to prevent any supply of lubricant, the backow passageway need be narrowed only slightly by the throttling means, so that the resulting throttling of the reverse flow of the medium can be kept within tolerable loW limits. Consequently, the invention provides for an advantageous ow of the medium through the atomizer in either direction, lubricant being admixed to the medium during the normal forward ilo-w only.

Preferably, the backflow passageway may extend through the lubricant container which communicates with the passage for the forward flow of the medium via ports located upstream and downstream of the control valve means, which embodiment requires only minor alterations of atomizer heads of conventional design. 4In order to avoid turbulence in the lubricant container during the reverse ow of the medium, an intermediate plate may be located in the lubricant container below the two aforesaid ports and partly covering the same, the said intermediate plate being preferably suspended from the atomizer head and deflecting the backflowing medium from the lubricant in the container.

If small quantities only have to flow through the atomizer and where the two ports have to ybe of minor dimensions to suit given operating conditions, it has been found to be suicient if according to the invention the port located on the downstream side of the control valve means is designed with a smaller cross-sectional area than the port located on the upstream side, the throttling means being formed by the smaller port only the throttling action of which prevents any lubricant supply during the reverse flow of the medium whereas during the forward ow of the medium in the normal direction through the passage it permits the bulid-up of an adequate pressure in the lubricant container for the delivery of lubricant.

On the other hand, it will be preferable, where large quantities are supposed to flow through the atomizer, to have the port located on the downstream side of the control valve means controlled by the closing body of a spring-loaded check valve opening in the direction of the reverse yilow of the medium and forming the throttling means of the backflow passageway. In this connection, it is possible for the ports to be of suflicient size to suit prevailing operating conditions so that even major backowing quantities are allowed to pass through the atomizer without objectionable throttling. Another advantage of this arrangement resides in the fact that during the forward ow of the medium through the atomizer the backow passageway by-passing the control valve means is kept closed, so that the supply of lubricant is by no means hampered and moreover, the response limit of the atomized is kept at the desired low level. The said check valve is preferably secured to the intermediate plate located in the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further details of the invention will be hereafter explained with reference to the accompanying drawing showing an axial cross-sectional view of an atomizer according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The atomizer shown comprises a lubricant container 1, topped by 'an atomizer head 2 and a drip cowl 3 preferably made of a transparent material. Inside the atomizer head 2 a passage 4 is provided through which the medium to be supplied with lubricant, such as for example, air to be used for the operation of compressed-air installations is passed. Incorporated in the passage 4 is a control valve 5 the hollow closing body of which is guided in the passage by means of three guide lugs and loaded in the closin g direction by means of a comparatively weak spring 7 resting on `a mandrel 6. The mandrel 6 is secured by means of a screw bolt 8 in the axis of the passage 4.

When the medium flows through the passage 4 in the direction of the arrows, which may be called the normal forward direction, the control valve 5 uncovers a crosssectional area the size of which varies depending on the quantity of the medium owing therethrough, thereby producing 'a certain pressure drop or diiferential head which is used to deliver the lubricant from the container 1 into the passage 4. To this end, the section of the passage 4 located upstream the control valve 5 as viewed in the direction of ow of the medium communicates via a port 9 with the container l, whereas the lubricant inlet 10 in the passage 4 is located on the downstream side of the control valve 5 where the lpressure prevailing during the flow of the medium is lower than the pressure prevailing on the upstream side of the control valve. Consequently, the lubricant in the container 1 is delivered 4 through the standpipe 11 and a delivery duct 12 located in the atomizer head 2 and in the drip cowl 3 to the drip cowl 3, where it drips into a recess 14 provided at the bottom of the cavity 13, from where it passes nally through another duct 15 at the inlet 10 into the passage 4. At the lower extremity of the standpipe 11 a suction filter 16, made of porous bronze, for example, as well as a check valve 17 are provided, the said check valve preventing the lubricant from flowing back into the container 1, thereby ensuring a brief response time of the atomizer.

When the medium flows in a reverse direction through the passage 4 in opposition to the direction indicated by arrows in the drawing, the control valve 5 closes the passage 4. In order to make a reverse ow nevertheless possible, a backflow passageway by-passing the control valve is provided which in the embodiment of the invention shown extends through the lubricant container 1 and is defined by the above-mentioned port 9 and by an additional port 18vconnecting the passage 4 with the container 11 on the side of the control valve 5 opposite port 9. Port 18 is controlled by means of a check valve 19 whose closing body carrying a packing is pressed against the port 18 by the action of a spring 20 and opens in the direction of the reverse flow. In order to preclude stirring of the lubricant in the container 1, an intermediate plate 21 is secured to the standpipe 11 in spaced relation to the atomizer head 2, the said intermediate plate preferably also holding the check valve 19 in position. The intermediate plate 21 closes the container only in part, so that the pressure of the medium normally owing through the passage 4 in the direction of the arrows prevailing in front of the control valve 5 is able to impinge upon the lubricant level in the container 1 for the purpose of initiating the delivery of lubricant.

If a medium to be supplied with lubricant is directed through the passage 4 of the atomizer in the forward direction indicated by the arrows, the control valve 5 uncovers, against the action of its spring 7, a section of the cross-sectional area of the passage 4 of a size depending on the amount of the medium flowing therethrough, so that it is possible for the medium to be delivered susbtantially unimpaired to the associated installations. At the same time, owing to the differential head produced by the control valve 5 in the passage upstream and downstream of the same, lubricant is delivered from the container 1 at the inlet 10 of the passage 4 and admixed to the medium owing therethrough as a ne spray. The amount of lubricant thus supplied to the medium can be accurately determined by counting the drops falling into the cavity 13 of the drip cowl 3 and regulated as required by means of a throttle incorporated in the delivery duct 12 designated by reference 22 and only partly sho-wn in the drawing.

When the medium flows back in opposition to the direction of the arrows the control valve 5 closes the passage 4, whereas the check valve 19 uncovers the backow passageway through the port 18, the section 23 of the container 1 located above the intermediate plate 21 and the port 9, so that the control valve 5 is bypassed. As a result, the check valve 19 produces a minor differential head between the sections of the passage 4 located on both sides of the control valve 5, so that the pressure prevailing at the lubricant inlet 10 of the passage is slightly higher than the pressure prevailing in front of the control valve 5 and consequently, in the container 1, thus preventing the delivery of lubricant to the passage 4. The size of this differential head can be selected as required by appropriately dimensioning the spring 20 of the check valve 19. As a result, lubricant is admixed to the medium flowing through the atomizer in the direction of the arrows only, whereas the returning medium flows through the atomizer without any admixture of lubricant and substantially without being throttled.

The atomizer according to the invention is suitable not only for the lubrication of compressed-air installations but it also permits atomization of any kind of material and its admixture to a medium flowing through the passage. lFor example, it can be used to advantage for the atomization of an anti-freeze agent. Furthermore, it is possible to employ it for insecticide purposes. The embodiment of the invention as hereabove described may be modied in such a manner that instead of traversing the lubricant container the reverse ow passes through a separate duct in the atomizer head or through a pipeline connected to it on the outside.

We claim:

1. An atomizer for lubricants comprising a container for the lubricant and an atomizer head connected to the container, the atomizer head having a passage for the ow of a gaseous medium therethrou-gh, the lubricant being admixed to the medium flowing through said passage by means of an inlet opening provided in the passage, springloaded automatic control valve means incorporated in the passage and regulating at a point upstream of the said inlet opening the cross-sectional area of the said passage and being operative to open in one direction provided for the forward flow of the medium through the atomizer head, said passage having a separate backow passageway bypassing a portion of the ow passage which is that portion in which there are provided the control valve means, and the inlet opening for the lubricant, said backow passageway serving for the reverse ow of the medium in an opposite direction to the forward ilow of the medium through the atomizer head, and throttling means provided in the said backflow passageway.

2. An atomizer according to claim 1, the throttling means being formed by a check valve incorporated in the backow passageway and opening in the direction of the reverse flow of the medium.

3. An atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the backow passageway extends through the lubricant container which communicates with the said passage for the forward ow of the medium via ports located upstream and downstream of the control valve means.

4. An atomizer according to claim 3, wherein an intermediate plate is provided in the lubricant container below the two ports so as to partly cover the said container, the said intermediate plate diverting the backilowing medium from the lubricant in the said container.

5. An atomizer according to claim 3, wherein the port located on the downstream side of the control valve means presents a smaller cross-sectional area than the port on the upstream side and forms the throttle means of the backow passageway.

6. An atomizer according to claim 3i, wherein the port located on the downstream side of the control Ivalve means is regulated by means of th-e closing body of a springloaded check valve opening in the direction of the reverse flow of the medium and forming the throttle means of the backow passageway.

7. An atomizer according to claims 4 and `6, wherein the check valve is secured to the intermediate plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,105,490 1/1938 Noble 184-55 3,023,849 3/1962 Tine 18A-55 3,131,786 5/1964 Gleason 184-55 3,244,257 4/1966 German et al 184-55 3,266,597 8/ 1966 'Sochting et al 184-56 MANUEL A. ANTONAKAS, Primary Examiner 

